"Volcanic tsunami": A volcano erupted near the capital of the Philippines

Approximately 8,000 people were evacuated from the area, flights canceled and schools and government offices disabled after the southern Ta'al volcano to Manila emitted a huge ash cloud of 15 km altitude. Strong earthquakes were felt at the time of the eruption and authorities warned of a tsunami

"Volcanic tsunami": A volcano erupted near the capital of the Philippines

A volcano near Manila, the capital of the Philippines, began to emit a huge amount of ash last night, canceling flights throughout the region, closing schools and government offices as well as evacuating some 8,000 people as authorities warn of "a potential outbreak". This morning (Monday) the volcano blurted out.

The eruption caused heavy earthquakes that shook the area of ​​Mount Taal to the south of the capital, while a sudden ash cloud erupted and rose about 15 km toward the sky. Authorities warned of a tsunami. Taal is considered one of the world's smallest active volcanoes and is located in the center of the lake located About 70 km south of Manila.

"Taal is a very small volcano, but also very dangerous. It's the worst case scenario," said Renato Solidum, head of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. "It is unique because it is actually a volcano that is inside a volcano." The institute raised the level of danger to 4 out of 5, meaning "a potentially dangerous outbreak within hours to days."

The Taal volcano erupts yesterday (Photo: Reuters)

Volcano erupted in Philippines, January 13, 2019 (Photo: Reuters)

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The state of the islands lies on the "ring of fire", a volcano belt out across the Pacific Ocean known as the earthquake-prone area.

One of the most active volcanoes in the Philippines, Taal, has erupted more than 30 times in the last five centuries, the last time occurring in 1977. In the 1911 eruption, 1,500 people were killed and another one occurred in 1754 for several months.

Thousands of evacuees are residents of the island where the mountain resides, which is considered a popular tourist destination on weekends to which mainly residents of Manila come. The huge ash cloud in the air resulted in the cancellation of 172 flights at and from the international airport on Sunday, and authorities said that even today flights will be suspended since ash accumulated on the runways.

The office of the President of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, has ordered the cessation of government work in the capital and the return of all schools in Manila and other areas affected by the ashes. Stores selling face masks in the capital recorded long queues as health officials warned of possible respiratory problems for people suffering from respiratory illness and implored the public to stay home and use dust masks at the exit.

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Danger level rose to 4 out of 5. Volcano eruption (Photo: Reuters)

Volcano erupted in Philippines, January 13, 2019 (Photo: Reuters)